Type-writing machine.



No. 643,786. Patented Feb. 20, I900.

. E. w. BRAGKELSBERG.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE. (Applidation filedJ'une 26, 1897.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-5heet l.

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No. 643,786. Patented Feb. 20, I900.

E. W. BRACKELSBERG.

' TYPE wnmm; MACHINE.

(Application filed June 26, 1897.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNST WILHELM BRACKELSBERG, OF OHLIGS, GERMANY; I

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,786, dated February20, 1900.

Application filed June 26, 1897 To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ERNST WILHELM BRACK- ELSBERG, a citizen of theKingdom of Prussia,residing at Ohligs, in the Kingdom of Prussia andGerman Empire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inType- WVriting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a type-writin g machine, and has for itsobject to provide a machine in which characters, &o., can be assembledeither singly or in groups in one operation, thus securing speed in theoperation of the machine. This object is accomplished by assembling thetype-levers in horizontal alinement and by my peculiar mechanism leadingthem when operated upon simultaneously in groups to a single point andin a close justified alined relation.

The invention consists in the parts, as hereinafter shown and describedand claimed.

'In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional viewthrough a machine arranged and constructed according to my invention.Fig. 2 is a plan view of the complete machine. Fig. 3 is a transversesection or elevation taken at a point indicated by the lines 3 3, Fig.2. Fig. 4 is a detached view, partly in section, of the paper-feedingmechanism. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the end of a type-lever,illustrating a modification of the means of alinement of the type.

The object of this invention is to arrange the type-levers and the meansfor guiding the same in such a manner that the type-levers in theirmovement from the point of rest to the point of printing or impressionwill be caused to be brought together and assembled side by side nomatter how many of the typelevers are operated upon simultaneously. Thisconstruction allows of the grouping for printing or impression of one ormore letters or characters at one operation,which will allow great speedbeing acquired in the usual type-writer as contradistinguished from themethod now in vogue of operating one typelever at a time. By myinvention I employ several such alphabetst'. 6., one set of capitals andtwo or more sets of small letters and several repetitions of thoseletters which frequently occuras, for example, the letters (6,77 (0,77Ii?! Serial No. 642,423. (No model.)

If, for example, the letters in the alphabet be grouped in the followingmanner-R, 1n, p: J7 y Z V W 0: 1 S: h, t, q, x, y, with severalrepetitions, as above stated-then I am enabled to write in one movementby striking sim ultaneousl y the corresponding keys the words in, an,it, (of), (man,77 Ou77 ((SetS, toccur,77 there, modern, &c., and thefollowing can be written in two movements or strokes: therewith,themselves, or any word of two syllables or two words each of a limitednumber of letters. Therefore it will be seen that by the grouping ofletters, as indicated, sentences containing thirty or forty letters canbe written with from eight to twelve movements, whereas as manymovements are necessary in striking single letters as there are lettersand spaces contained in the sentence.

Referring to the drawings, a designates the key-levers, which arepivotally secured substantially midway their length on the rod a,suitably secured in the frame A. Connecting the inner ends of thekey-levers and the projection c of the type-levers c are the rods 0 thetype-levers being normally held in an upright position by the springs19, interposed between the key-levers and the top of the frame. Theprojection 0 upon the type-levers being at an angle to the body thereofand extending forwardly therefrom, a downward movement of the key-leverswill effect a rearward movement of the type-levers, as plainly shown inFig. 1.

The type -levers are journaled upon a straight rod d, secured in theframe A, and consequently when at rest project upwardly in alinement andextend substantially across the entire machine. In order to cause thetype to assemble centrally of the width of the machine, to one side ofthe frame is secured an immovable guide-bar g, the rear end thereofprojecting inwardly to about the center of the machine at a pointdirectly in front of the platen or impression-plunger.

h designates a movable guide-arm pivotally secured to the frame A at h,the rear end k being normally held against the rear end of thestationary guide-arm g by the spring 1', secured to the frame andbearing against the movable arm it. Therefore by referring to Fig. 2 itwill be seen that when a key-lever is actuated it will either strikeagainst the inclined surfaces of the stationary guide-arm g or themovable guide-arm h, according to the side of the machine upon which thetypelevers are located, and will be guided toward the central part ofthe machine and will finally rest between the ends of the guidearms 9and h, the guide-arm h moving outward against the tension of the springi, as shown more especially in Fig. 2. This lateral movement of the typeend of the type-levers is due to a portion of the type-levers beingformed of spring material, preferably weakened by the removal of aportion thereof, as at t, or, if desired, 1 may provide a hingejoint atthis point, the action being the same.

As thus far described the operation will be apparent. By depressing twoor more of the keys simultaneously the type levers are caused to moverearwardly with the same speed, and consequently in transversealinement, the guide-arms g and IL bringing the type 6, carried by thetype-levers, together, whereby they are properly j ustified,when theyassume a position of rest, due to the action of spring '21 upon themovable guide-arm 7b.

In order to assure perfect alinement of the type, the end of thestationary guide-arm 9 may be angled, as shown at 1), Fig. 4:, the underside of the extreme end formed with a groove 1) to receive the extremeend of the type-levers, which thereby assures that the type are inperfect alinement.

In Fig. 5 is shown a modification of the alining mechanism, whichconsists in forming the end of the type-lever slightly reduced, forminga shoulder X. The type c in this construction are secured to a U-shapedstrap V, which is slidingly arranged on the reduced end of the key-leverand is normally held against the shoulder X by means of a spring W. Inthis arrangement I project laterally from the end of the stationaryguide-bar g a bar S, with which the lower edge of the type abut when thetype-levers are projected, and consequently all of the type having abase upon the bar S are in alinement.

It designates the platen.

O designates the carriage, which is movable laterally across the machinein suitable guides, the said carriage carrying upon its front side atransverse bar '11-, which extends entirely across the carriage. Thecarriage and its parts, consisting of the paper-feeding mechanism, &c.,not being a part of this invention and as there is no claim laidthereto,

it is not shown or described in detail.

Pivotally secured to a dependinglug R upon the end 71/2 of the movableguide-bar 71 is a le-- ver Z, and connecting the opposite end of thesaid lever with the transverse-bar end carried by the carriage is a linkm. The lower end of the said link on is provided with a loop m, whichembraces the bar n and serves as a clamp therefor when the rod l and thelink m are moved in one direction, as willbe presently described.

As previously described, the movement of the end 77, of the guide-bar hcorresponds in point of distance to the width of type grouped, andconsequently the width of the printing or impression. Therefore it isnecessary to move the carriage a distance corresponding to the outwardmovement of the lever h, but alternatel y therewith. The rod Z, beingcarried by the movable lever h, moves the link at, and consequently theloop m,therewith. The path of travel of the carriage is in the directionof the arrow, Fig. 4. Consequently as the loop moves in a directionopposite to the arrow it slides upon the bar a; but when it is moved inthe direction of the arrow it impinges upon the bar 07. and carries thebar, and consequently the carriage, therewith.

The spaces between the words or characters are produced by key-levershaving a blank thereon. In printinglettersorcharactersseparately-i. e.one at a timethe spacing may be eitected through the medium of anadjustable stop 1, Fig. 4, the end of the rod Z being provided with astop-piece 1", which abuts against the same.

What I claim as my invention is-- 1. In combination with a pairofconverging, inclined guide-bars, one of which is rigid, the otherspring-pressed and pivoted, a series of pivoted type-bars and mechanismfor actuating the same, each of the said type-bars being recessed at ifto weaken it for yielding laterally when brought in contact with one ofthe said guide-bars in its forward motion, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with a pair of converging, inclined guide-bars, aseries of pivoted typebars and mechanism for actuating the same, each ofthe said type-bars being flexible in a lateral direction and arranged tobe bent and guided by one of the said guide-bars, substantially as setforth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ERNST WILIIELM BRAGKELS lEItG.

